Donegal can reclaim All-Ireland honours says captain Michael Murphy

Colm McFadden and Eamonn McGee quickly announced their retirement after last year's Championship loss to Dublin but they have recently been joined by Christy Toye, Rory Kavanagh and David Walsh, while Odhran MacNiallais has taken the year out.

Michael Murphy believes Donegal can still challenge for an All-Ireland this year despite the mass exodus of of experienced players.

Colm McFadden and Eamonn McGee quickly announced their retirement after last year's Championship loss to Dublin but they have recently been joined by Christy Toye, Rory Kavanagh and David Walsh, while Odhran MacNiallais has taken the year out.

But having been more competitive at underage level in recent years, including reaching the All-Ireland minor final in 2014, Murphy is confident that Donegal have enough emerging talent to continue to challenge for the biggest prize.

The captain said: "I still believe it yeah, we do have the ability and footballers to do it.

"I think we've a hell of a lot of things going for us but I know one of the main focuses of this first year, where we've maybe a three or four-year plan, is the development of this whole squad.

"Hopefully success at maybe League and provincial level, if that does come, [but] without a shadow of doubt we'll be going for an All-Ireland.

"But I'm not going to sit here and say we're going out to win an All-Ireland when I know myself that the development of all these players is the big one.

Reflecting on the spate of retirements, the 27-year-old said: "It's something that was said to me after the Dublin game last year, you would've expected a good few of them to go as the months went on you suspected they might stick it on but that's it, that's something we all have to accept.

"It's going to be difficult you're soldiering with them for the last 10 years, I'm going into my 11th year now, you're spending all your time, you're training with them, you get to know them, they become your best friends.

"You're not going to see them as much anymore but yeah that's something we all have to get on with it.

"Yeah it's a bit strange to begin with your first couple of weeks back training but I can safely say now being back over a month now there's still a good few of the lads about and with the younger lads who have come in you're just building up new friendships with them and they are the same type of characters, they're from the same clubs."